Member of Parliament for Dulwich and West Norwood since 1992. Tessa's previous Ministerial appointments were Minister of State for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities at the Department for Education and Employment (1999-2001) and Minister of State for Public Health at the Department of Health (1997-1999). She became a Privy Counsellor in 1998. Prior to the General Election of 1997, Tessa was the Spokesperson on Health (1997-1999 and 1994-1995); Opposition Spokesperson for Women (1995-1996); and Opposition Whip (1994-1995). Before her election to Parliament in 1992, Tessa had a career in psychiatric social work, social policy and public sector management. She is a visiting fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford.